WINA is among many media outlets reporting on “Cyber Monday,” the internet equivalent of Black Friday. The catch is that it doesn’t exist. Reporters, do yourselves a favor and don’t run that story. #
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Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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Not about that. It may change this year (though I doubt it), but for the last ten or so years at a well-known “local multi-channel electronics retailer” the biggest day of the year is the 2nd or 3rd Monday of December (it’s not the Monday after Black Friday). In fact, each year the daily record is broken on that Monday (it varies depending on when Xmas falls, when the shipping cutoff is, etc). All the record days on their web site since it went online in 95 have fallen on that Monday in December.
I would be reluctant to disagree with an esteemed member of the corporate mainstream media such as Business Week, but at the “local multi-channel electronics retailer” at least the biggest online (or off line) shopping day has NEVER been in November. And the Monday after Black Friday has always been really good, but only a taste of what is to come in two or three weeks.
Besides, the article is from 2005 – eons ago in ecommerce!
Actually, not “sure” about that. D&^$ computer.
But the “Cyber Monday” urban legend refers to today as the internet-wide shopping day. In fact, it’s spread out from retailer to retailer online (the big day varying), and the big days at online retailers might be somewhere between 5% and 20% better than their otherwise biggest days of the year, nothing near the spike experienced on Black Friday by brick-and-mortar retailers.
according to wikipedia, cyber monday is the start to the pre-christmas online shopping boom. while the actual stats on revenue for this day vary, i think it has more to do with retailers using it as a marketing tool. i’ve already received four or five “cyber monday” emails from various online (and B&M) retailers. cyber monday may not be exactly what the newsies are describing, but it definitely does exist.
Yes, Waldo — but maybe no more. This from Al Tompkins, Poynter:
Cyber Monday Hoax Coming True
A few years ago, a marketing association gave the name “Cyber Monday” to the Monday after Thanksgiving. The story was that on that day, people rush back to work, get online and start ordering Christmas gifts. But it was just a PR campaign based on no evidence that such a thing happened. Now, e-retailers take Cyber Monday seriously, and it might just be creating a Monday-after effect …
An article at CNN.com
I think addresses what we are questioning here.
http://money.cnn.com/2007/11/26/news/economy/cyber_monday/index.htm
That Poynter link definitely seems to sum things up well, lb — thanks for that!
Another myth is that Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year. It may be the busiest, but it is usually beat out several times each year.
Marketing – gotta love it!
yeah, considering the fact that prices are so ridiculously dropped on black friday, one would think that the amt. of money generated isn’t as high as it could be (and def. not #1 in terms of revenue).